From catching crooks to stopping crooks
‘I used to work for the police. I had completed my thesis as part of my work on the force, and all parties were a bit disappointed when that period came to an end. So when the police offered me a a new contract to stay on, I jumped at the offer. I enjoyed my time on the force for many years. I have nothing but an enduring and deep respect for my former colleagues who work hard every day to keep society safe. After a while I started wondering whether staying on the force was the right career path for me, or that maybe I should broaden my horizons by moving to one of the network partners. Just then DNB approached me for a position in the cybersecurity department. A small switch from ‘To protect and to serve’ to ‘Protect the servers’. In other words, a job description that shifted from catching crooks to stopping crooks.
DNB is a bank like no other
De Nederlandsche Bank is a unique employer and, as a central bank and supervisory authority, is at the heart of the financial system. DNB is committed to a stable, secure and resilient financial sector, primarily for the Netherlands, but also as a team player together with the central banks of other EU member states. And it doesn't stop at the European borders: the Netherlands is also a partner in all major international financial organisations such as the World Bank, the IMF, and regional development banks. Many international financial flows also pass through the country. The Dutch financial system is many times larger than Dutch GDP, and the banks make up a full third. We’re talking about huge financial flows and the interests of public organisations and companies, but also of ordinary citizens. De Nederlandsche Bank is a crucial component in all of this. Being a part of that is humbling, but it also makes me feel proud and gives me a great sense of responsibility.
DNB is committed to a stable, secure and resilient financial sector, primarily for the Netherlands, but also as a team player together with the central banks of other EU member states.
Wide range of activities
The work is very diverse, so the job description resembles a Swiss army knife. It ranges from conducting various risk assessments to trying to hack into the bank’s own systems to test whether we are as secure as we think, and basically everything in between. And the work takes place both in the physical and virtual world. Our on-site computer systems must be protected, but we are also active in the cyber world, the cloud, protecting our digital traffic and assets there. My team focuses its work on three core objectives every day. One, protecting data integrity: the data must be correct and not manipulated. Two, ensuring the system is robust, making it difficult to impossible for malicious actors to break in. And three, strengthening resilience, which means getting systems back up and running quickly when they are taken offline for whatever reason, like a malfunction or a virus. And by focusing on these three objectives, we ensure that financial flows can continue unabated. That people can buy their groceries, use their debit cards in shops or pay by credit card in restaurants.
A unique group of people
At the end of the day, it is the people in a country, an association or a company that make things happen. The culture, the professionalism, the mix of personalities. And at DNB, we really have a truly unique and wonderful group of people. There is a rich mix of personalities and professions here. That really inspires me. I can honestly say that a remote working day can also be pleasant, though. But being with my colleagues and really working together towards a common goal is what makes working at DNB so fantastic.
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